COVID-19 peak of second wave maybe over - Health authorities

• Widely circulated message on social media claiming over 250 patients detected in Wellawatta and Kirulapona areas is false
• Slave Island and a few streets in Dematagoda continue to be hot spots 

By JAMILA HUSAIN

Health authorities yesterday said that following a downward trend recorded in COVID-19 cases reported from isolated areas in the Western Province, the peak of the second wave may be over but PCR tests were being conducted across the country to detect any further clusters.   

Director General of Health Services, Dr. Asela Gunawardena told Daily Mirror that a majority of new COVID-19 cases were now being reported from the prison cluster while new patients being detected from isolated areas, were seeing a downward trend.  

“The peak of the second wave maybe over as we are seeing a flat line now. But this is if there is no other cluster detected. We are continuing our surveillance and conducting PCR tests in factories, BOI companies, vegetable markets, fish markets across the island.   

That is how the Akaraipattu and Kandy cases were detected,” Dr. Gunawardena said. He said if the flat rate continues, without fresh clusters being detected, authorities will be able to bring the situation under control by mid December or by end December. Presently, Colombo North, Colombo Central, a few areas in Slave Island and a few streets in Dematagoda continue to be hot spots in the Western Province.   

A widely circulated message on social media yesterday claiming that over 150 patients were detected in Wellawatta and over 100 patients in Kirulapona is false and areas such as Kolluptitiya, Bambalapitiya, Wellawatta, Dehiwala and Mount Lavinia have not detected many patients in recent weeks. “A few weeks back cases were reported from construction sites in Kollupitiya but that is settled,” Dr. Gunawardena said.   

The peak of the second wave maybe over as we are seeing a flat line now. But this is if there is no other cluster detected. We are continuing our surveillance and conducting PCR tests in factories, BOI companies, vegetable markets, fish markets across the island